Page 36 of Hidden Attraction

They started down a long hallway. According to what she learned on the tour, they would pass the room where Julian should be digging through dusty files. Only she knew he wasn’t there.

Her heart picked up an extra beat.

She and Thorne strolled past a row of open office doors. The men working at their desks saw Thorne and saluted. He gave them nods in return as he passed, his pace far too quick in what must be an eagerness to end their tour and get back to his own office.

Suddenly, he didn’t seem as talkative.

More frightening was the fact that they were quickly approaching the place where Julian wassupposedto be. They weremere stepsaway from the room housing the files.

“Rourke and his team are in charge of writing up orders,” Thorne was saying with a wave at one office. He pointed to another cramped space. “Frankel’s team is in charge of supplies.”

Alyssa dragged her feet even more. “And you said you have a team of computer experts. How many people make up that team?”

“Four or five depending on the year.”

“I see.”

They passed an exit with a glass window that looked out onto the endless sand-hued landscape. Only a helipad was in view, a single chopper resting on it, silent and still.

She paused to look out, hoping she appeared interested. “Odd how that helicopter crashed shortly after taking off. It’s such a safe area. Do you see many crashes?” She swung toward him, using her body language to encourage him to keep talking. Arms loose at her sides, shoulders aligned with his.

He clasped his hands behind his back. “That crash was unusual. I’ve only seen that one in all my years of being stationed here. The chance of a chopper going down is never zero, but they’re very safe.”

She pointed at a building. “Is that where the helicopters are serviced?”

“Yes. Since there isn’t much demand, we only have a skeleton crew of mechanics at this time.”

“Very economical,” she praised him even as the next question poised on her lips. “And was that particular helicopter inspected on the day of the crash?”

“Of course it was.”

“You said that only you and a security detail coordinator from that time period are still on base. Would there be logs for me to look at with the names of the mechanics and the number of years they had in that line of service?”

He bristled. “If you’re suggesting that the personnel weren’t skilled or experienced, you’re mistaken. They were all properly trained, and there was nothing faulty about that helicopter when it launched.”

Yet the reports said it was a mechanical failure. Things just weren’t adding up.

Thorne’s agitation was clear. She stared at the helipad but glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

“Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. And the pilots? Are they assigned specific birds?”

“No. They get the craft they’re assigned to for that flight. But that platoon had their own pilot so they could deploy faster.”

Her lungs constricted, making it difficult to breathe as they turned away from the glass and moved on. With each step they took toward that room filled with files—the room where Julian was supposed to be—Alyssa’s concern compounded.

She cast around for some way to distract Thorne but nothing came to mind. As soon as she cleared the doorframe, she automatically swung her head to look inside.

And her heart clenched. Julian wasn’t there.

Panic clutched at her. She racked her brain for a way to turn the commander’s attention in another direction.

Before he could take the long stride that would bring him to the doorway, she tripped into his path.

“Oh!” She grabbed his arm to steady herself.

“Ambassador Vargas, are you all right?” He steadied her, fingers closing firmly on her upper arms and his eyes warming in a way that made her hate her damsel in distress act even more.

“I’m so sorry, Commander. I guess I’m not used to the terrain yet.” She gave him a sheepish look. “I must only be used to marble embassy floors.”

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